After a yearlong re-branding process, Senior Community Centers has recently undergone a name change to better reflect our mission. Providing the same innovative services, Senior Community Centers will now be known as Serving Seniors. We are excited to reintroduce ourselves with a new name and logo.

“Frankly, the name Senior Community Centers was a bit stodgy and didn’t actually reflect the innovative nature of our programs and services,” said Paul Downey, president and CEO, Serving Seniors. “Serving Seniors captures the essence of what we do every single day, with passion, for San Diego’s neediest seniors.”

The agency also has a new mission statement: Helping seniors in poverty live healthy and fulfilling lives. Both were announced by San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, a long-time supporter, at the agency’s recent “Experience of a Lifetime” fundraiser in early April 2014.

“The new mission had to clearly demonstrate our core values,” said Downey. “For us, it is all about changing and saving the lives of seniors struggling to meet their basic needs.”

We are proud to announce that our “Experience of a Lifetime” event on Thursday, April 3 was a smashing success. The Broadway Pier transformed into a spectacular space for the evening displaying Derek Slevin’s captivating photographs and hosting an exciting program and live auction. Nearly 500 guests enjoyed a fabulous night and we are thrilled to have met our fundraising goal. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of our sponsors and guests with a special thank you to our presenting sponsors, Sempra and SDG&E. The important work we do for our seniors would not be possible without all of you.

In August, the Social Security Administration began processing benefit claims for partners in same-sex marriages in response to the Defense of Marriage Act court decision. While this is a big step forward for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and marriage equality, much remains to be done. LGBT seniors face several particular concerns as they age:

According to a 2011 study commissioned by the San Diego LGBT Community Center, more than one-fourth of the 400 LGBT senior respondents said they sometimes, often or almost always attempt to hide their sexual orientation from neighbors or others.

LGBT seniors tend to have fewer children than their heterosexual counterparts. This, coupled with rejection from other family members, can lead to limited or no family caregivers. According to the study by the Center, 68 percent of local LGBT seniors said they had neither family nor friends to count on for support or assistance.

Only 18 percent of respondents who had younger siblings said they could count on them for assistance.

More than half said they had not planned well enough for their retirement.

Twenty-three percent said their annual income was less than $20,000.

So what needs to happen to make certain we are supporting this vulnerable population and allowing them to live the lives they want and deserve? First, there needs to be an increase in housing, health care and social welfare services dedicated to San Diego’s LGBT senior population. This means agencies that specifically support LGBT seniors and mainstream seniors’ organizations must ensure that policies and procedures are in place to ensure that everyone — regardless of sexual orientation, race or religion — is welcomed and provided equal services.

We are proud that Senior Community Centers is just that sort of place. Our basic philosophy is that “we leave judgment to a higher pay grade” and every senior is welcome to be part of our community. A wise man once said, “Love has no limits, only people do.” This could not be truer when you speak about the LGBT community. We all have a responsibility as humans to love and support one another.

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The full article first appeared in the September Issue of the San Diego Daily Transcript.